Pullman Sydney Airport deploys cloud-based communications system

New model gives hotels option to deliver communications and services on per occupied room per night

23 June, 2016: ALE, operating under the Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise brand, with McLaren Technologies today announced the five star Pullman Sydney Airport has become the latest hotel associated with the AccorHotel Group to deploy a combined cloud-based collaboration solution developed by the two companies.

By deploying the solution via the cloud, AccorHotels is able to leverage advanced communication to improve guests services and reduce its upfront costs by distributing the investment over a number of years. The solution is an integration between Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise cloud solution and Jazz, McLaren Technologies’ cloud-based management service for voice.

Opening on June 7th, 2016, the roll-out at Pullman Sydney Airport is the seventh deployment of the innovative cloud based solution in Australia and New Zealand. Accor’s decision to continue to roll out the solution in its newest location follows successful projects in Adelaide, Mackay, Newcastle, Brisbane and the soon to open Sofitel Wellington, New Zealand.

The deployment of Alcatel-Lucent OpenTouch™ Enterprise Cloud (OTEC) platform is managed by UXC Connect, whereas Mclaren Technologies integrated the hardware into the hotel property management system (PMS). By integrating the PABX component of OTEC into the PMS, the hotel properties can separate the communication spending to bill for telephone calls, provide voicemail, as well as set auto wake-up calls and any other features that might be necessary in a hotel context.

Additionally, AccorHotels can now employ network convergence to combine its internet links into the property with all its administration and guest functionality. It also enables the hotel to improve overall guest services by enabling other applications on top of the network convergence and to allow guests to use their own devices to access hotel services.

“Our movement towards a cloud-based telecommunications system is quite innovative for the hotel industry here in Australia and it’s something we see as a true competitive advantage. As the hotel industry faces technology disruption and stiffer competition than ever before, it’s important that we too are embracing the power of technology,” said Daniel Marden, Director IT Business Systems, AccorHotels Group, Australia.

“The structure of the deployment, where we work on a consumption basis, allows our chains to be more profitable in our busy periods. It also shields us from the risk in downturns. It encourages our individual sites, which now includes the Pullman at Sydney Airport, to innovate and drive reservations, as rewards are increasingly linked to performance. It will also help us continue and sustain growth, enabling rapid implementation for planned new sites with central and remote management.”

Matthew White, CEO, McLaren Technologies said: “Although the technology in each of the AccorHotels sites is innovative in itself, what is truly groundbreaking is the commercial model upon which the solution is built. It’s a progressive business model that charges on a consumption basis per occupied room per night.”

“The feedback we are getting from the customer is that the financial model aligns neatly with their business model – which can be seasonal and unpredictable. By aligning the billing to the seasonal nature of the hospitality industry we are providing AccorHotels with a competitive advantage.”

For ALE, this represents a wider push towards the cloud across the entire Australia-Pacific Region, led by Steve Saunders, Cloud Director for the APAC region, ALE. He commented: “AccorHotels’ sustained investment in cloud based telephony is clearly paying dividends. Given that the model is based on shared risk and shared reward with our customers and partners, it also fosters a work relationship that is based on achieving more together and collaborating as a team. In an increasingly competitive hospitality industry, it’s this shared risk and reward model which will help hotels continue to grow into the future.”